Early MLB Targets: June 29th

Thursday afternoon brings us a five-game slate of baseball. Let’s dive right into all the information for this slate, and as always, you can get me on the ol’ Twitter machine @SBuchanan24.

Pitcher

Stud

Corey Kluber – CLE vs. TEX – $12,600 – Kluber tops my pitching targets this afternoon as he gets set to take on the Texas Rangers. Kluber continues to dominate since coming off the disabled list, posting a .177 wOBA with a with a .198 SLG with a 13.3 K/9. He faces a Rangers team that leads the league in K% on the road at 27.6% with a .296 wOBA and a .404 SLG.

Other Options – Michael Fulmer ($9,400)

Value

Brad Peacock – HOU vs. OAK – $9,700 – Peacock is the second most expensive pitcher on this slate, but he brings a $2,900 savings from Kluber. Similar to Kluber, Peacock is also in a favorable matchup against a team that brings a lot of strikeout potential. The A’s are fourth in the league in K% on the road at 25.4% to go along with their .303 wOBA and .394 SLG. Since sliding into the starting rotation, Peacock is sporting a .280 wOBA with a .308 SLG and a K/9 of 13.9 in six starts.

Catcher

Stud

Alex Avila – DET vs. KC – $4,000 – Avila has essentially become an everyday option at catcher as long as a right-handed pitcher is on the mound. He heads into this afternoon with a .455 wOBA against righties with a .639 SLG and a .452 OBP. He’ll take on Jake Junis, who in his limited action in the majors is allowing a .359 wOBA to lefties with a .491 SLG with three of his six home runs allowed.

Other Options – Yadier Molina ($3,600)

Value

Matt Wieters – WAS vs. CHC – $3,000 – I’m not sold on Jon Lester on the road. Lester owns a .363 wOBA on the road and faces one of the best offenses in the league at Nationals Park this afternoon. Wieters has been hitting lefties well thus far, posting a .396 wOBA with a .595 SLG with three of his six home runs.

Other Options – Chris Herrmann ($3,300)

First Base

Stud

Anthony Rizzo – CHC vs. WAS – $4,600 – I don’t mind Joe Ross as a GPP pitcher today against the Cubs, but Rizzo is one spot I would worry about if I’m rostering Ross. In his three years in the majors, lefties have hit him especially hard to the tune of a .363 wOBA with a .478 SLG with 15 of his 28 career home runs. So far this year it’s been business as usual for Ross, who owns a .391 wOBA against lefties with seven of his 12 home runs allowed.

Other Options – Edwin Encarnacion ($4,800)

Value

Jose Martinez – STL vs. ARI – $3,300 – I’m hoping Martinez draws the start this afternoon as he’d take on Patrick Corbin in Arizona. He’s been regulated to pinch-hit duty as of late but has been making an impact when he’s playing. At home against righties, Corbin is allowing a .340 wOBA with a .444 SLG with five of his 14 home runs allowed.

Other Options – Victor Martinez ($3,600)

Second Base

Stud

Ian Happ – CHC vs. WAS – $4,000 – Looking at that L v R matchup again against Joe Ross, Happ checks in this afternoon with just a $4,000 salary. He’s been hitting the ball very well as of late, sporting a .358 wOBA against righties with a .538 SLG and eight of his 10 home runs.

Other Options – Ian Kinsler ($4,500)

Value

Daniel Descalso – ARI vs. STL – $3,600 – Lance Lynn has been getting whacked by lefties this season, so his matchup against the Diamondbacks is not a favorable one. Lynn brings with him a .393 wOBA against lefties on the road with a .552 SLG with eight of his 18 home runs allowed. If Descalso lands in the leadoff spot this afternoon, he’s all the more valuable at $3,600.

Other Options – Whit Merrifield ($3,600)

Third Base

Stud

Jake Lamb – ARI vs. STL – $5,000 – After just talking about Lynn and his struggles against lefties, you had to figure Lamb would be my top pick at third base this afternoon, right? At home against righties, Lamb owns a .424 wOBA with a .624 SLG with nine of his 17 home runs. The high price tag won’t scare me off Lamb this afternoon.

Other Options – Jose Ramirez ($5,300)

Value

Anthony Rendon – WAS vs. CHC – $4,200 – I wouldn’t exactly call Rendon a “value” at $4,200, but third base is quite thin this afternoon. Rendon has been dominating left-handed pitching this season to the tune of a .572 wOBA with a .923 SLG with six of his 14 home runs. If Lester’s road struggles are to continue, Rendon could be a big reason why.

Other Options Nicholas Castellanos ($3,900)

Shortstop

Stud

Francisco Lindor – CLE vs. TEX – $4,400 – Francisco Lindor will face off against the returning Andrew Cashner, who is fresh off a two-week stint on the disabled list. Cashner doesn’t particularly struggle on the mound, but he’s not exactly dominating hitters either. Lindor against righties at home is posting a .342 wOBA with a .471 SLG and a .337 OBP.

Other Options – Trea Turner ($5,100)

Value

Elvis Andrus – TEX vs. CLE – $3,900 – Like third base, shortstop is another position that could potentially be tough to fill. I don’t LOVE Andrus against Kluber this afternoon, but I do like what Andrus has done against righties. When Andrus faces righties on the road, he’s posting a .351 wOBA with a .488 SLG and a .338 OBP. If you’re looking for a contrarian play at third, Andrus could be your guy.

Other Options – Javier Baez ($3,800)

Outfield

Stud

George Springer – HOU vs. OAK – $5,400 – Springer is the most expensive outfielder on this slate, but I love his home numbers against righties. It doesn’t hurt that he’s averaging 14.4 fantasy points over his last 10 games with six home runs either. But against righties at home, Springer is sporting a .401 wOBA with a .605 SLG.

Other Options – J.D. Martinez ($4,800), David Peralta ($4,700)

Value

Marwin Gonzalez – HOU vs. OAK ($3,900) – I feel as though Gonzalez is consistently being ignored, despite the solid season he’s been having. It could potentially be because he mainly bats seventh, although he has seen time in the second and sixth spot. Nonetheless, Gonzalez owns a .427 wOBA at home against righties with a .662 SLG with seven of his 13 home runs.

Other Options – Gregor Blanco ($3,500) Stephen Piscotty ($3,900)

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Steveazors) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above.

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